Grants and Other Financial Assistance Programs

FY2024: MassGrad Promising Practices

Fund Codes: 0320/0324

Purpose:

The purpose of this federally funded competitive grant opportunity is to provide supplementary support for dropout prevention and reengagement activities to high schools with high numbers of dropouts. These students may: be expectant or parenting teens, have drug or alcohol addictions, have current or previous contact with the courts or juvenile justice system, be at least one year behind expected grade level for the age of the individual, have limited English proficiency, be a gang member, be a former dropout, have high or chronic absenteeism, and/or any other factors that would place students at-risk for not graduating.

Priorities:

Competitive priority will be given to districts and schools in chronically underperforming status.

This grant is intended to provide identified high schools with high dropout numbers in school year 2021-2022 an opportunity to apply for competitive funding for programming to better meet the needs of their at-risk students by reducing the number of students dropping out of school, and ultimately increasing high school graduation rates.

Grant applicants must select at least one evidence-based strategy for implementation in response to a needs assessment that identifies the need that will be addressed by the selected strategy or strategies. Schools that have existing turnaround plans may use information from the turnaround plan to identify the need and the reason for the strategy selection in response to the needs assessment. The focus of the work should be on a student-centered activity that contributes to immediate action for decreasing the number of students dropping out. The implementation of a career development continuum is strongly suggested so students can experience a sense of hope, see a future for themselves in a field of interest and create an individual pathway to success.

Details on research-based strategy areas are available in the Research-Based Strategies for Dropout Prevention and Re-Engagement. A second resource that may help identify programs and strategies for success for at-risk youth could be the Alternative Education Guide. Both documents are available in the "Additional Information" box below.

Eligibility:

Schools who reported 20+ dropouts in school year 2021-2022 and had a dropout rate higher than the state dropout rate of 2.1%
Schools who reported 15+ dropouts in school year 2021-2022 and had a dropout rate 2X or higher than the state dropout rate of 2.1%

Eligibility amounts are based on the size of the school and numbers/percentages of dropouts in school year 2021-22. An eligibility list can be found in "Additional Information" below.

Funding Type:

Fund Code 320: Federal CFDA 84.010 Federal Title I At-Risk Youth funds
Fund Code 324: Federal CFDA 84.425 Federal ESSER Fund

Funding:

Approximately $3,000,000 dollars are available under these fund codes.

Priority for funding will be given for schools and districts in chronically underperforming status.

This RFP is the governing document for these grant funds.

Funding is contingent upon availability. All dollar amounts listed are estimated/approximate and are subject to change. If more funding becomes available, it will be distributed under the same guidelines that appear in this RFP document. Districts are eligible to apply for funding to support the school(s) in their district that meet the eligibility requirement.

Fund Use:

Funds may be used for costs associated with the implementation of the research-based programming as identified in targeted to students at-risk of dropping out of school. Allowable uses include, but are not limited to, the following:

Stipends for newly hired specialists, such as dropout prevention specialists, college and career planning specialists; graduation coaches, or dropout recovery coaches, work-based learning specialist, to work during or after school with students at risk of dropping out;
Consultant fees associated directly with programming;
Counseling services not provided by the school or district for at-risk students;
Development of contextual learning opportunities for students
Supplies and materials associated with programming (see notes below);
Other costs related to creative and effective programs and initiatives addressing one or more of the risk factors exhibited by students in danger of dropping out of school or disrupting the school environment.

Additional Notes:

Grant funds may not be used for the purchase of technology — hardware or software or licenses for on-line learning;
Grant funds may not be used for programs exclusively serving students with disabilities or to supplant existing alternative education programs;
Grant funds may not be used for transportation or entry fees to activities that are recreational by design: e.g., amusement parks, canoeing/kayaking, sporting events, mazes, etc.
All funds must be used to supplement, not supplant, the use of local funds in meeting the needs of students at risk of dropping out.
Snacks and food for staff and students are prohibited by this grant, unless specifically recommended as part of an intervention strategy and conform to the State's guidelines on healthy nutrition. See 105 CMR: Department of Public Health section 225.100: General Nutrition Standards for Public Schools.

Project Duration:

Upon Approval – 6/30/2024

Program Unit:

College Career and Technical Education

Contact:

Lisa Harney

Date Due:

Friday August 11, 2023

Proposals must be received at the Department by 5:00 p.m. Eastern on the date due.

All responses must be received by the due date listed above. Failure to do so will result in disqualification. Responses not received on time will not be reviewed. Applicants applying after the due date may be notified their application was received late and will not be reviewed. Applications must be submitted as directed in the Submissions Instructions below. Failure to do so may result in disqualification. If you need assistance with submitting your application, please reach out to the contact person listed on this funding opportunity.

Additional Information:

Submission Instructions:

This Grant Application will be submitted in our new GEM$ system. GEM$ is a cloud-based fiscal and program management grant system that will eventually phase out the use of EdGrants.

Grants for Education Management System (GEM$)

Last Updated: July 6, 2023